SCHUTZEE

I've had my C300 Sport about 6 weeks and I love it. The sound system blows away my 2005 E500. But the SIRIUS signal cuts out frequently. Is this normal? I find it very annoying.

yxc145

I have my car for 2 months already. I haven't even activate my SIRIUS radio yet. ha ha.
does the subscription go away if I don't activate it in a time period?

jrct9454

Sirius has had signal problems on and off for the past 6 months or so.

A year ago, when we bought our C300 and immediately left on a long road trip, we went 4 weeks without any signal problems [except where you would expect them - deep in a high forest, tunnels, canyons]. This year, on nearly every trip, we've gone through periods where there have been periodic dropouts.

Others have noticed, some have complained....as far as I know, Sirius has never acknowledged the problem. Clearly, one of their satellites is not as healthy as it should be, but they apparently don't want to say so out loud.

TRauppius

Where are you located? Sirius satellites fly highly elliptical orbits that have a repeating ground track that rises from below the horizon, continues on to a relatively position in the sky, and then sets below the horizon. They whole cycle takes either 12 or 24 hours depending on the type of orbit flown.

The point here is that the range and angle from the satellite into you car's antenna pattern varies bury the orbital cycle. This means that the signal strength versus received noise is cyclical. Sometimes you will have a booming signal, and at other times it gets quite weak. You Sirius receiver is supposed to sense this and switchover to another other Sirius that has potential to get you a clean strong signal. By comparison XM radio uses satellites in geosynchronous orbits that are always at same range and angle above the horizon, but they have their own drawbacks.

Another factor, and more likely what you are encountering, is that these signals only travel in a straight line and do not bounce of structures very well. The signal gets absorbed and scattered by overpasses, bridges, tall buildings, etc. The usually result in a signal drop-out that last until the blockage is gone.

Finally location is important. Use this URL (http://www.peopleswireless.biz/sirasasecoma.html) to see visualizations of the Sirius coverage areas, relative signal strength, satellite orbits, and a few hints on how better antennas can compensate and improve your reception.

rb23lb

have you seen their stock price lately?

They dont want to say anything outloud unless its positive at this point

Peter Ruby

I haven't noticed a signal problem in my Ford.

who8888

Nothing unusual. Maybe they are getting ready for their merger with XM. Dropping one of their Sat My wife's XM is great! It gets signal even in place where SIRIUS fades out.

inactiveuser1019

I've had my 2008 C300 for a year. First 9 months without any problem. Then, around August, I've started having this problem too. It happens a few times every day. Dealer tested unit and found nothing wrong. It's probably Sirius, but they'll never admit it.

Jamby728

I thought it was just my car. I have an 09 C300 Sport and my Sirius cuts out almost daily. I am in a flat area too!

Stick Girl

Nope, they aren't admitting it because I called about the same thing and I was told that my antenna was probably loose. But in the same breath she said that a loose antenna was very "odd" in a "Mercedes" (as though no other ish goes wrong on this car!)

mac911

You have six months free. It isn't turned on yet though?

jstaneff

Yes. Not right away, but after several months, they will "activate" your subscription so that it will expire and be off their books. You will probably get a letter or two telling that this is happening.

I lost 1 of those free months due to this. No great loss, and I did not renew at the end of the free period.

Not worth the monthly fee ..... IMO

whiteongrey

I also has reception problems but gone now. You can reset / reboot the SAT radio - might help.

I love the SAT radio - saves me so much time I used to spend finding new content for my I-POD (hardly use it anymore).

Stick Girl

How'd you do that?

whiteongrey

Can't remember exactly, but may be the manual might have the procedure.

I think I cycled through the radio freq via button on dash to SAT, then cycled through sub-menu via joystick and pressed when on the menu's "reset". I think it's in the same menu used to find the Sirius ID number.

Worked a couple of times, then the reception cleared up after they got their sat issues sorted - never to reappear again.

I like Sirius so much I bough a receiver for my home, the hardware was free as I rec'd $50 gas card, then I signed up for a year and got another $50 gas card.

It's plaing now on Area 38, as I write.